Kitts sets a U.S. record in Olympic weightlifting debut

Wes Kitts relocated to the East Bay five years ago just to accomplish what he did Tuesday at the Tokyo Games.

Kitts, 31, set a U.S. record in the men’s 109-kilogram (240.3 pounds) category to finish eighth in his Olympic debut.

Kitts, a former Austin Peay running back, lifted a total of 390 kilograms, peaking for the delayed Games despite struggling with aching joints because of the extra year of training through the pandemic.

Despite the national record, he was not satisfied.

“It’s not my best total,” Kitts said. “When you come to the Olympics, I think everyone wants to do their absolute best, so it’s a little disappointing.”

Kitts got a strong start at 173 kilograms in the snatch, an increase of three kilograms from his previous openers in international competition.

But then he missed his second attempt at 177kg. Kitts made the lift on his third try to set an American record.

The lift was a breakthrough for the man who had missed the weight at the 2019 World Championships.

“I just wanted to take my time,” Kitts said. “I was chalked up and ready to go. I was taking my time to put a good technical snatch together instead of bullying it around.”

Kitts came to Tokyo with the U.S. and Pan American record for the clean and jerk (223 kilograms) and total (399).

He missed on his first try in the clean and jerk at 213kg, an increase of two kilograms from previous openers. Kitts made it on his second attempt and ended his Olympic meet when missing at 220 kilograms on his third and final try.

The eighth-place result is Kitts’ highest finish at an international meet. His previous best was 10th place at the 2017 World Championships.

Kitts, the first U.S. lifter to compete in the Olympic men’s heavyweight category in 25 years, also is the 2019 Pan American Games champion.